A PUBLIC consultation into the use of Public Space Protection Orders to tackle the problem of drinking in public places across Bradford has begun.

PSPOs allow authorised officers to request, where they reasonably believe consumption of alcohol within the area will lead to anti-social behaviour, the surrender of any alcohol on an individual’s possession.

Failure to comply with the request is a criminal offence to which a fixed-penalty notice or fine can be imposed. The current City Centre Order also includes psychoactive substances (formerly known as legal highs).

It makes it easier for police to tackle the misuse of legal substances.

As previously reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Council recently agreed to renew orders for the city centre and other areas around the district, and the four week consultation began this week.

Orders could be extended to new areas or altered depending on the results of the survey, which will go out to the public, police and emergency services, and businesses in the area.

Public consultation will decide whether street drinking orders will be expanded

The Council says that since the PSPOs were obtained in 2016 there has been a 43 per cent reduction in alcohol related incidents across the District with Bradford City Centre experiencing a greater reduction of 54 per cent.

The consultation will help Bradford Council to extend, vary or discharge the PSPOs for Bradford City Centre, Keighley Town Centre, Bingley Town Centre, Shipley Town Centre and an area of West Bowling.

The consultation began yesterday and ends on Sunday August 18.

The online survey and map of the proposed PSPO area can be accessed via this link; https://surveys.bradford.gov.uk/snapwebhost/s.asp?k=155928771060

Councillor Abdul Jabar, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, said: “People drinking and becoming anti-social in public spaces is inconsiderate and can be intimidating to other members of the public trying to use the space.

“The PSPO allows us to combat this anti-social behaviour and since 2016 they have been extremely effective in helping tackle this problem.

“Any action we can take to remedy this situation and increase community safety and improve the reputation of the district will be of benefit to residents, visitors and businesses.

“We welcome the views of the people of Bradford district regarding the use of these PSPOs.”